As of September 26, 1974, a most interesting find by workers of the
current old cemeteries project is now on its way as a matter of record
with the State Historical Society concerning Richland County and its
related values. Location of 118 year old plot is on the Earl Moody
Section 34, Town of Forest, east of junction of county trunks I and G,
where G enteries from the south. The surrounding land is on a hillside
pasture area found to be presently unkept. Gravestones are of the old
slab variety. Of the six stones, one has a double inscription. Five can
now be truly identified, although a few are almost illegible. All
markers can now be cataloged as follows: This plot, as located, appears
to be within an early neighborhood settled by these representative
families. The year 1872 saw the last burials here according to all
available data. It appears that future burials were continued in the
nearby Hopewell Cemetery, which has a new section plus the original
one. The old section lies about 80 rods north and is not visible from
County Trunk I. The old church, long a familiar landmark, is no longer
standing. J. P. Neher (also Nehr) farmer and minister, took up
land on July 8, 1853 in Sections 34-35 in the Town of Forest. The same
acreage is now owned by Earl Moody. Mr. Neher started a family site in
1856 at the death of his first son, Martin D. on May 14, 1856, aged 22.
In 1862 a second son Solomon J. died on July 16, 19Yrs and 14
days. In 1872 a typhoid fever epidemic struck this small
community. Within a six week period it had struck down a daughter, Mrs.
Mary Ann Morrow, wife of Samuel; and M. A. Morrow, her infant child.
This occurred Oct. 6. The mother was 30 years, 10 months and 12 days of
age. The yet surviving son, Gilbert M., died on November 15, Age 6 yr.
11 Mo. 24 days. In the meanwhile the father of a neighboring family,
Jacob Harrison Kanable, had died in their native state of Indiana and
was buried on the Kanable lot in a Russiaville cemetery. No mention was
made in this bit of data of Mrs. J. H. Kanable. However, she and the
children came to live with the Samuel and Mary Ann Morrow family. The
Kanable family consisted of four children at home, three sons and one
daughter, namely, Harmon, Forest, James, and Florence. Harmon died at
an early age while the remaining three were listed in the old Kanable
School register. The "Neher Tragedy", as it was then called, had now
taken the last two known children.
1. Florence M.
died Oct. 10, 1872, aged 13 yr 10 mo 2 da.
2. James H. died Oct.
16, 1872, aged 12 yrs., 6 days.
The burial site as it appears today does not identify Harmon and Forest
Kanable as having been buried there, yet there is some evidence in No.
6 spot of at least one unidentified burial. It is possible that there
is considerable more recorded elsewhere, however the above data is
fairly conclusive as given by one Gerald E. Kanable of Willingsboro,
New Jersey, 1 Minstrel Lane, zip code 08046. ADDENDA: Stewart,
two young daughters of Charles Stewart, unmarked graves. One Margaret
J. Neher, wife of J. C. Neher, was found to be buried in Sand Prairie
Cemetery, section 34 - Town of Richwood, 1851 - 1882.